What is ulcerative colitis? Ulcerative colitis is a condition in which the large intestines are inflamed. This is a chronic condition which can be very painful to the one experiencing it. The colon is used to store waste materials from the body and leads to the rectum. An ulcerative colon can cause a lot of pain, especially while making bowel movements.Ulcers and inflammation in the inner lining of the organ can lead to rectal bleeding, constipation, and a lot of pain. People who suffer from Crohn’s disease are the most susceptible to ulcerative colitis. Irritable bowel syndrome is a condition where a person has both ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. All of these are chronic conditions with very severe symptoms and little in the way of treatment. As it inflammation of the colon it is called as colitis which is also known as colonitis. There are different types of colitis such as ulcerative colitis, pseudomenbranous colitis, fulminant colitis and inflammatory bowel disease. It is also a form of ulceration which is very sore and is formed in the lining of the large intestine.
The inflammation occurs in the rectum and lower part of the colon but it can affect the entire colon. The condition leads to diarrhea which happens due to the inflammation making the colon empty frequently. Inflammation does the work by killing the cells and ulcers are formed at the same place which bleeds as well as produces pus. The age by which this disease starts is between 15 and 30. It can also been seen in people between the ages of 50 and 70. There has been no convincing test to confirm on the causes of ulcerative colitis. While defending against the virus and bacteria the immune system is activated. This kind of activation leads to inflammation within the tissues. This continuous activation of the immune system causes the chronic inflammation and ulcers. This can also be genetically inherited. Both men and women are equally susceptible to this condition. The condition could affect anyone, at any time during their life. Even young children and older adults are susceptible to it. Living with ulcerative colitis can be very difficult and the patient may have to pursue a strict diet for it as well. A diet for ulcerative colitis is bland and gluten free. What is ulcerative colitis caused by? The exact causes of ulcerative colitis are not yet known. Despite millions of studies performed on this condition, there are no conjectures on how a person may come to suffer from this disease. There have been several attempts to find whether the condition is contagious, but that too is still not clear. Most likely, there is an abnormality of the immune system, which affects the intestines. When the immune system gets activated, it begins to destroy healthy tissues, therefore causing inflammation in the colon.
Some of the common symptoms are rectal bleeding and diarrhea. You can also find yourself tired most of the times. You will find yourself losing weight very easily. The desire to eat leaves you with constant rectal bleeding. Due to diarrhea there is heavy loss of nutrients and fluids. It can also cause problems like arthritis, inflammation of eye, liver disease, osteoporosis, skin rashes and anemia. The treatment depends on the seriousness of the disease. There are medications by which people can be treated. In severe cases it is suggested by the doctors to remove the affected colon by surgery.
Ulcerative colitis nutrition can help control the symptoms, but is not useful in treating the condition completely. Though no genetic link has been found, it is believed that first degree relatives of the person suffering from this condition are more susceptible to it. With the help of several treatments for ulcerative colitis, there may be some relief from the symptoms. Ulcerative colitis remission could occur with the right kind of treatment. However, ulcerative colitis has a tendency to flare up, as it is never really completely treated.
Symptoms of ulcerative colitis. The common signs of ulcerative colitis include rectal bleeding, pain in the abdomen, and diarrhea. There can be a wide range of symptoms among the men and women who suffer from this condition. If the ulcerative colitis only affects the lower part of the colon, the condition is known as ulcerative proctitis. This is an easier condition to manage than ulcerative colitis. You may also experience rectal inflammation, which causes pain while you are passing stools. You may suddenly have the urgency to make a bowel movement and though the urge is usually painful, it is also ineffective and you may not be able to pass stools at all. Some patients have a tendency to develop bloody diarrhea as well as cramps in their abdomen. There may be significant weight loss as well. Ulcerative proctitis symptoms are similar to those of ulcerative colitis. You can consume a diet for ulcerative colitis flare up to deal with the pain and discomfort.
Treatment of ulcerative colitis. Both medication and surgery are used to treat this condition. Medical treatment usually focuses on treating the symptoms of this condition. Ulcerative colitis nutrition therapy or ulcerative colitis diet is used in most cases to deal with the symptoms as well as to soothe the colon so that normal digestive functioning is regained. A diet for ulcerative colitis in children is completely devoid of glutens. Mostly, the diet for ulcerative colitis sufferers is bland and starch free. People are encouraged to consume more of vegetables and fruits, as well as boiled foods which are non-spicy. Since the symptoms of ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease are very similar to each other, their treatments are also similar. The diet used for both colitis and Crohn’s disease is the same. The symptoms of ulcerative colitis in men are the same as symptoms of ulcerative colitis in women, and therefore the treatments are also the same.
Though surgery is also an accepted form of treatment for this condition, it is resorted to only when there are no other forms of treatment left. There are usually periods of relapse when the condition flares up. This is the most difficult period for the patient because they are unable to eat or drink properly and the condition is extremely painful as well. Ulcerative proctitis cure has not been found yet and therefore, there is no ulcerative proctitis treatment which can completely cure the disease. During the surgery, a part of the ulcerated colon may be removed, but that often leads to other complications and lifelong care and management, so the surgical route is only taken when the inflammation in the colon leads to life threatening complications.
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